---
title: "Engaging and Progressing People (UKSPF 2026-2027 and trailblazer funding priorities)"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-fb10db20-fcec-443a-8484-85a1bccf1ec3"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-fb10db20-fcec-443a-8484-85a1bccf1ec3"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-fb10db20-fcec-443a-8484-85a1bccf1ec3.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-fb10db20-fcec-443a-8484-85a1bccf1ec3.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "City of York Council"
published: "2026-08-24"
---

# Engaging and Progressing People (UKSPF 2026-2027 and trailblazer funding priorities)

Buyer: City of York Council  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-fb10db20-fcec-443a-8484-85a1bccf1ec3

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## Summary

City of York Council procured services to engage and progress economically inactive people and others facing barriers to work. The programme provides person-centred, holistic and flexible support, including initial assessment and triage, referrals to specialist help, confidence building, physical, mental and financial wellbeing support, employability advice, information and guidance, and help with childcare, travel and training costs. It is intended for groups including people aged 16 to 24 and 50 to 64, people who are long-term sick or disabled, rural, coastal and isolated communities, women, ethnic minority groups, young people not in education, employment or training, and people with complex needs. Delivery is in Yorkshire and the Humber. This is a services contract and is suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

The procurement is complete and was awarded to Better Connect Limited on 28 April 2026. The award value is £2,000,000. The contract runs from 9 July 2026 to 31 March 2029. The requirement was let through a selective procedure as a call-off from a framework agreement. Bids had to be submitted by 25 March 2026 at 12:00 UTC. The programme is funded under UKSPF 2026–2027 and trailblazer funding priorities. Delivery and monitoring cover participant engagement, referrals, progression towards work or training, and the characteristics and barriers of supported cohorts. The published classification is research and development consultancy services, although the practical requirement is targeted employability and progression support.

The award demonstrates demand from City of York Council for integrated employability support delivered through a framework route. A credible future provider would need to combine outreach and engagement with person-centred assessment, triage, case management and tailored progression planning. Relevant capability includes supporting economically inactive people and participants with health conditions, disabilities or complex personal circumstances, while linking effectively with specialist and community partners. Providers should be able to address confidence, wellbeing, financial difficulties, childcare, travel and training barriers, and give practical information, advice and guidance. Strong monitoring and reporting arrangements are important, including the ability to track participant outcomes and demographic or cohort information. Organisations with partnership networks, experience of reaching disadvantaged groups, and the operational capacity to deliver across Yorkshire and the Humber would be well placed.

## Notice

The key types of activity to be supported by this programme are (this is not an exhaustive list and innovative approaches to engage and support the target groups are welcomed, provided it supports delivery of the programmes outputs and outcomes): * A person-centred, holistic, tailored, flexible and accessible offer * initial assessment & triage-based support * Referral to specialist interventions both within the delivery partnership and to external partners, to assist individuals to overcome barriers and address complex needs to improve employability and progress in work. * Support for building confidence and self esteem * Physical and mental wellbeing * Financial wellbeing * Clear and targeted employability support to move participants closer to work, * information, advice and guidance * Support to overcome barriers to progression/training including childcare, travel, training costs etc. * Engaging and tailoring support to economically inactive groups/those with complex needs and barriers. Expected cohorts include, but are not limited to people aged 16-24yrs and 50-64yrs, people who are long term sick, with a disability or health condition, those from rural , coastal and isolated communities, women, people from an ethnic minority, young people not in education, employment or training and people with multiple complex needs (homeless, care leavers, ex/offenders, people with substance abuse problems and victims of domestic violence). This information will need to be collected and reported through the monitoring process.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8651c372-6b6c-41fa-af75-55d2c9061df3 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a framework agreement |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 24 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 25 Mar 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 28 Apr 2026 |
| Contract period | 9 Jul 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £2,000,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £2,000,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | City of York Council |
| Locality | YORK |
| Postcode area | York |
| Postcode | YO1 6GA |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber |
| ITL 2 | TLE2 North Yorkshire |
| ITL 3 | TLE21 York |
| Local authority | York |
| Electoral ward | Micklegate |
| Westminster constituency | York Central |
| Delivery location | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Better Connect Limited |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

## Release History

- 24 Aug 2026 at 14:14 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8651c372-6b6c-41fa-af75-55d2c9061df3

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8651c372-6b6c-41fa-af75-55d2c9061df3
  24th August 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Provenance

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